Tesco to start selling vinyl records as format’s popularity soars

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Tesco is to start selling vinyl records for the first time in its history in recognition of the format’s increasing popularity.

The supermarket giant, which has been selling CDs for decades, will stock a small selection of classic albums as well as a few new titles by the likes of Coldplay and George Ezra.

LPs by The Beatles, Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley and Elvis Presley be available, priced between £12 and £20.

Sales of vinyl, which hit an all-time low in 2007, have been steadily rising in the years since. In 2014, more than 1.2 million records were sold in Britain – the most in a single year since 1995.

It follows a small trial over the summer, during which 55 Tesco branches sold an Iron Maiden album.

The 20 albums Tesco will sell on vinyl

The Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Coldplay – A Head Full Of Dreams

The Eagles – Hotel California

ELO – Alone in the Universe

George Ezra – Wanted on Voyage

Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction

Fleetwood Mac – Greatest Hits

Foo Fighters – Greatest Hits

David Gilmour – Rattle That Lock

Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II

Bob Marley – Legend

Nirvana – Nevermind

Elvis Presley – 30 Number 1 Hits

Prince – Purple Rain

Radiohead – The Bends

The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers

The Specials – The Specials

Bruce Springsteen – Born In The USA

The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses

Various – Guardians of the Galaxy (Soundtrack)

Michael Mulligan, the chain’s music buyer, said: “Our trial selling vinyl this summer was a real success with all our stock selling out and this really proved to us just how popular the vinyl album format is again with music fans.

“Vinyl is definitely coming back with demand growing stronger year by year and we think there will be a big demand in the UK this Christmas as music fans look for trendy gifting options.

“We have brought in vinyl albums for everyone – from new releases for established collectors to absolute classics for younger fans and for mums and dads who might have worn out their original copies the first time round.

“By also selling record decks, we are helping customers who are looking to start their own vinyl album collection.”

Supermarkets’ ability to undercut record shops and sell cheap CDs was blamed in part for the decline of music retailers throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Despite the surge in its popularity, vinyl still makes up a fraction of music sales worldwide – about 2 per cent in 2014.

Tesco will initially sell the records at 40 branches, but has not ruled out extending its vinyl stock if the titles prove popular.